The latest edition of Conrad Herwig's Latin Side series finds him tackling the music of an artist with whom he has performed extensively: saxophonist Joe Henderson. This week's series of shows at the Blue Note marks the latest in the trombonists's string of Latin Side recordings and performances (many on Half Note Records), including The Latin Side of Herbie Hancock (2010), The Latin Side of Wayne Shorter (2008), Sketches of Spain y Mas (2006), Another Kind of Blue (2004), and The Latin Side of John Coltrane (1998).

A New York-based jazz trombonist, Herwig is considered one of the world's complete jazz musicians, atop both the performing and jazz educational fields with an abundance of composer and arranger credits to boot. To date, he has released over 20 recordings as a leader, in addition to contributing to nearly 200 other recording sessions with some of the most notable artists in jazz. He has performed and recorded with Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Frank Sinatra, Joe Lovano, and Tom Harrell, among many others.

Equally well versed in the bebop, hard bop, and modern jazz musical languages, Herwig's professional performance career commenced in the '80s with big band stints with a number of legendary figures, including Clark Terry, Cab Calloway, Buddy Rich, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Mel Lewis. As his stock rose in the New York area, he developed associations with a virtual who's who of jazz. In particular, he began long relationships with pianist Eddie Palmieri in the '80s (a partnership that continues to this day) and the late Joe Henderson, recording and touring with the saxophonist during various periods in the '90s.

Herwig's career took an important leap forward in 1996 when he drew from his straight-ahead, modern, and Latin jazz experiences to create The Latin Side of John Coltrane – an album he would call a "reimagining of Coltrane's work," with original arrangements created within a Latin jazz context. At the time of its release, the recording received across-the-board rave reviews, and it has inspired a string of Latin Side releases and performances that has lasted close to two decades.

Tonight, Herwig and his Latin Side band perform with special guest saxophonist Joe Lovano, a Grammy-nominated jazz titan who has worked with Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, McCoy Tyner, and numerous other legends, in addition to leading a prolific solo career.